Ipswich boss Mick McCarthy made no apologies for the scrappy victory 1-0 victory over Bolton which kept his side very much in the fight for a Championship play-off spot.

"There are nine games left and we still have a chance of being promoted. It is not going to be silky, free-flowing football without nerves.

"They had a lot of chances, as did we, but if you are profligate in front of goal and we score through Tabby, that's all that matters.

"I kept the same team tonight and Bolton were no mugs. But we kept a clean sheet and we won."

Jay Tabb's 79th minute winner was the pivotal moment in a match that seemed to be heading towards a goalless draw for the promotion-chasing home side.

The midfielder's shot into the ground found its way into the bottom corner to claim three crucial points after Bolton could only half-clear a Daryl Murphy cross. Meanwhile, new Irish call-up Harry Arter opened the scoring for fellow promotion hopefuls Bournemouth, but the Cherries could only manage a 1-1 draw away to Cardiff City.

Derby County's promotion bid slipped further as they went down 1-0 at home to title-chasing Middlesboro, with Patrick Bamford netting the winner on 64 minutes.

Brentford, meanwhile, kept their promotion bid alive with a 3-2 win away to Blackburn. Wolves are just two points behind Ipswich with a 3-0 win at home to Sheffield Wednesday.

Ireland first-choice keeper David Forde kept a clean sheet in struggling Millwall's draw with Brighton, while Wes Hoolahan came off the bench to score for fouth-placed Norwich City in their 2-2 draw at Huddersfield.